Dysrhythmias in Apparently Healthy Elderly Subjects

Abstract

Using 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring, the incidence of cardiac dysrhythmias was investigated in 50 apparently healthy elderly subjects aged over 60 years. There was a high incidence of both ventricular and supraventricular ectopic beats, supraventricular tachycardia and sinus arrest. First- and second-degree block were also noted. The incidence of dysrhythmias bore no obvious relationship to age over 60, sex, blood presssure, cigarette smoking, caffeine and theophylline ingestion or resting 12-lead ECG abnormalities.

An Evaluation of Falls, Syncope, and Dizziness by Prolonged Ambulatory Cardiographic Monitoring in a Geriatric Institutional Setting

“…Cardiac disease is common in elderly patients, and cardiac arrhythmias occur more frequently in the elderly than at younger ages 1 . The prognostic significance of asymptomatic cardiac arrhythmias in old persons is unclear, and more studies are needed to define their importance 2 Glasser et al found that the high incidence of “benign” slow atrial tachycardias they observed in an older population could not be related clearly to frank cardiac disease 3 . For their 13 subjects, the average age was only 69 years—considerably less than that in our group (83 years)—and follow‐up was not reported.…”

Twenty-Four-Hour Electrocardiography in a Healthy Elderly Population

“…Reported proportions hitherto have been between 8 and 62% [4,5,[7][8][9][10]15], This finding suggests that multifocal VPBs are of 'benign' value. Bjerregaard [3] pro posed that more than two types of configura tion would count as 'abnormal'.…”

Ventricular premature beats--story petrels?

“…Clearly long-term follow-up of patients is needed to determine the prognostic importance of arrhythmias detected at initial examination along the lines of the early studies by Hinkle," 33 but using modern automated equipment for analysing the tapes: at least one group of investigators plans to do this. 32 What does all this mean in terms of finding premature contractions on an ambulatory tape ? In symptomatic patients recordings may help to establish the nature of the arrhythmia underlying palpitations, and in those with coronary artery disease they may help separate a high risk group.…”